Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings does not belong to a thirteen-year-old Asian
girl who failed reading comprehension on a standardized test.
Author's Note: Soooo sorry I didn't update!! Very, very sorry. I was trying to finish up my other story so I could just focus on this one. Ok, just to let you know, the next chapters might be a bit confusing with everybody trying to hide stuff and all. Some of you already figured out the thing between Hithiel, Artamir, and Thranduil so that will make it much easier to understand.
NOTE!! This chapter is mainly the character's thoughts.
Bittersweet Revenge
You Were Wrong
Ambaril glared at his younger brothers, unable to believe what had just happened. 'He thinks he's so much better than me! That bastard! I should be heir to the throne! Me! I'm older. Legolas knows nothing. Only because he looks like Mother. He was always the favorite son. The nice innocent one. So quiet. No nice and helpful. You don't fool me, Legolas. You are NOTHING! Just wait and see. It's all because of Mother. You're such a baby. Father only likes you because you remind him of Mother. You're not better than me! We are equal. Maybe I'm better. Yes, I was always the better fighter.'
An ironic smile graced his pale face and he left the throne room quietly for his own chambers, his mind still racing. 'Damn you Legolas! May you never receive entrance to Mandos Hall. EVER!' That was the worst thing to say to an Elf. To be banned from Mandos was the worst punishment to be dealt. The threat was not to be taken lightly.
He paced back and forth in the silence of his own chambers, trying desperately to reclaim the throne for himself. His light feet strode angrily over the polished wooden floor. His sun-gold hair, the family trait, blew into his face. Ambaril reached up with slender fingers and impatiently brushed it off. 'Father's hair,' he thought grimly. 'No. Not Father. Ada, you never considered me to be your son. I was never worthy enough to be your son. You never loved me. If I had died, you wouldn't ever shed a tear for me. You only care about Legolas. Only him. There is no place in your heart for me.'
Sadness clouded the blue eyes. So blue it was almost black. Then the sadness there flicked away, replaced by anger. 'If you don't consider me your son, then you're not my father. You will never be a true father to me anymore. I am not your son.'
Ambaril's features hardened and his eyes guarded. "I am not your son."
~*~*~With Hithiel~*~*~
She felt a warm hand touch her face. 'Mother?' She leaned unknowingly into the touch. The hand was warm and comforting but it was also slipping away. 'Mother! Don't leave me!' She tried to hold on to that moment but it slipped away from her. 'No! Don't leave me here!'
And her green eyes snapped open and the first thing it focused on was the Prince in front of her. 'It wasn't Mother,' she thought with a twinge of sadness. 'I should've known. Mother would never do that.'
"You're awake," the Prince said softly, his blue eyes staring hard into her green.
'Obviously,' she thought but when she tried to say it, nothing came out. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt to be nice to him for once. After all, he did save my life.' She nodded mutely.
"Turn around," the Prince commanded. He reached out towards her and she instinctively shrank back from his touch. He sighed. "I won't hurt you. I am trained in healing. Please. Let me help." He tried to extend his hand in a gesture of peace but he could still see that the Elf was still tense. 'What made you so afraid?'
Hithiel was still tense. She didn't trust the Elf but she didn't know what made her uncoil from her defensive position and allow him to help. Slowly, she turned around but she kept on darting suspicious glances over her shoulders. Legolas noticed this but didn't say anything.
"I need to see your back," he said softly knowing that rushing her would do nothing. After a nod of permission, he gently helped her slip off the light green tunic. The he was faced with the bloody mess of her back. Most of the bleeding stopped but some had reopened when she jerked awake. Behind the mess of dried blood, he could see the pearly white of past scars.
"Haldir?" he said. He felt her jerk underneath his hands when he said that and Haldir shot him a questioning look. Legolas shook his head slightly, his golden hair cascading down his back like a waterfall.
Haldir stepped towards his friend, holding a small basin filled with warm water and athelas leaves. He made a face when he saw the result of the Elf's whippings. Legolas took a small piece of cloth and dipped it into the athelas. Then, trying to cause as little pain as possible, started to clean her back. A small hiss escaped the Elf and an occasional shudder ripped through her body but she otherwise did nothing. Soon, the water in the basin was tinted red by her blood.
The piece of cloth was also stained red by her blood and Legolas was amazed that the Elf didn't utter a single whimper. He glanced at her face but it was completely emotionless. He bound her back with clean bandages and stood up admiring his work.
Hithiel shook her head slightly, causing her long raven hair to fall back into place, covering her bandaged back. She shrugged her tunic back on and turned to face the two Elves. She had to admit, she was starting to trust Legolas but the other...
'Haldir...' Yes, that's what Legolas had called him. Her sharp eyes studied the Guardian. He was stronger than her and probably had more experience but she had seen to it that she was faster than him.
"It should heal naturally now," said Legolas jerking her from her thoughts. "Don't overstrain yourself. You can rest here in the palace until you are strong enough to travel."
Hithiel was taken aback at this offer. She had not expected kindness or help from the stranger. There must be something else. No one will offer shelter without payment. He wants something in return.
Legolas could see that she was surprised by his offer but he said nothing. 'Why doesn't she trust me?' He cleared his throat slightly. "May I ask you something?" he said nonchalantly, hoping that she'll be more corporative this time.
'I knew it! He wants information. That was the payment for living here. That's why he was acting so nice to me.' She narrowed her eyes. "That depends on what the question is," she said coldly, her suspicions renewed. Her training ran through her mind: Never trust men. 'Especially the son of Thranduil.'
She saw Haldir move from the corner of her eye and she whipped around to face him in an attacking stance. To her surprise, he didn't attack her. He just stood there with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I am not your enemy," he said with a grin when he saw she was in an attacking stance.
Legolas also grinned. "I said don't strain your back," he scolded lightly. To his delight, she also smiled. It was the first time he ever saw it and he could see it was genuine, lighting up her entire face.
"No, you said don't OVER-strain my back. I'm not OVER-straining it." She grinned at Legolas's mock pout for losing the argument. 'How can this Elf be Thranduil's son? He's so innocent, so carefree. Maybe Mother is wrong. Maybe not all men are bad.'
At the thought of her Mother, all her playfulness evaporated leaving her only her training and duty. To kill Thranduil. That's what she lived for. That was the only cause. The impish grin left and slight frown decorated her face.
"Does your back pain you now?" he asked seeing the change in her.
"Yes," she lied feeling a pang of guilt. The Elf has been truthful to her all the time and even saved her life yet she still lied to him. His startling blue eyes were overflowing with innocence and youth.
Legolas quickly got a pillow and used it to support her injured back, feeling the emerald green eyes studying every movement. "What were you going to ask me?" she said suddenly.
"Oh, nothing."
"Liar."
"Fine. I was going to ask you who did this to you," he gestured to her back.
His sharp blue eyes saw the emotions that flitted through her eyes. Sadness, loss, and acceptance were all blended together in those expressive eyes. She blinked once and it became guarded, void of all emotions. 'You didn't deserve it. No one should,' he thought sadly, feeling his heart go out towards the Elf.
"I can't tell you," she said softly after a moment of awkward silence. She looked up and the two Elves could see unshed tears in her eyes. Legolas wanted to reach out to comfort the Elf but he feared that he would scare her away.
"Why?" asked Haldir just as softly.
A single crystalline tear slid down her pale cheek but she quickly brushed it away. 'Mother, why? Don't you love me? You never cared about me. I was nothing to you. You are just using me for your own revenge. You were wrong. Not all men are worthless. Haldir and Legolas actually care. They care.'
She bit her lower lip, trying to direct her internal pain somewhere else. It didn't help so she bit harder. Then the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth and she realized that she had injured herself. A river of blood ran down her chin from her split lip. Her eyes blurred from the unshed tears but she refused to let them fall.
Legolas looked at the broken Elf with pity swimming in his eyes. He held up a piece of cloth to her. She looked away. "I am not crying." Her voice was dull and lifeless.
'What happened to you, Hithiel?' he thought. "I know. It's for the blood." Hithiel turned and looked away again. Legolas sighed. She's so stubborn! "If you want to cry, just cry. There is no shame in it. Even the strongest of warriors will cry. Tell us what happened. Trust us."
Hithiel turned her proud head slowly towards him. "Should I trust them? Can I trust them with my secret?'
Ok, there you go. A small dose of cliffs do very nicely for getting reviews. PLEASE REVIEW!!! It will make me very happy cause now I'm really bored with Spring Break.
Author's Note: Soooo sorry I didn't update!! Very, very sorry. I was trying to finish up my other story so I could just focus on this one. Ok, just to let you know, the next chapters might be a bit confusing with everybody trying to hide stuff and all. Some of you already figured out the thing between Hithiel, Artamir, and Thranduil so that will make it much easier to understand.
NOTE!! This chapter is mainly the character's thoughts.
Bittersweet Revenge
You Were Wrong
Ambaril glared at his younger brothers, unable to believe what had just happened. 'He thinks he's so much better than me! That bastard! I should be heir to the throne! Me! I'm older. Legolas knows nothing. Only because he looks like Mother. He was always the favorite son. The nice innocent one. So quiet. No nice and helpful. You don't fool me, Legolas. You are NOTHING! Just wait and see. It's all because of Mother. You're such a baby. Father only likes you because you remind him of Mother. You're not better than me! We are equal. Maybe I'm better. Yes, I was always the better fighter.'
An ironic smile graced his pale face and he left the throne room quietly for his own chambers, his mind still racing. 'Damn you Legolas! May you never receive entrance to Mandos Hall. EVER!' That was the worst thing to say to an Elf. To be banned from Mandos was the worst punishment to be dealt. The threat was not to be taken lightly.
He paced back and forth in the silence of his own chambers, trying desperately to reclaim the throne for himself. His light feet strode angrily over the polished wooden floor. His sun-gold hair, the family trait, blew into his face. Ambaril reached up with slender fingers and impatiently brushed it off. 'Father's hair,' he thought grimly. 'No. Not Father. Ada, you never considered me to be your son. I was never worthy enough to be your son. You never loved me. If I had died, you wouldn't ever shed a tear for me. You only care about Legolas. Only him. There is no place in your heart for me.'
Sadness clouded the blue eyes. So blue it was almost black. Then the sadness there flicked away, replaced by anger. 'If you don't consider me your son, then you're not my father. You will never be a true father to me anymore. I am not your son.'
Ambaril's features hardened and his eyes guarded. "I am not your son."
~*~*~With Hithiel~*~*~
She felt a warm hand touch her face. 'Mother?' She leaned unknowingly into the touch. The hand was warm and comforting but it was also slipping away. 'Mother! Don't leave me!' She tried to hold on to that moment but it slipped away from her. 'No! Don't leave me here!'
And her green eyes snapped open and the first thing it focused on was the Prince in front of her. 'It wasn't Mother,' she thought with a twinge of sadness. 'I should've known. Mother would never do that.'
"You're awake," the Prince said softly, his blue eyes staring hard into her green.
'Obviously,' she thought but when she tried to say it, nothing came out. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt to be nice to him for once. After all, he did save my life.' She nodded mutely.
"Turn around," the Prince commanded. He reached out towards her and she instinctively shrank back from his touch. He sighed. "I won't hurt you. I am trained in healing. Please. Let me help." He tried to extend his hand in a gesture of peace but he could still see that the Elf was still tense. 'What made you so afraid?'
Hithiel was still tense. She didn't trust the Elf but she didn't know what made her uncoil from her defensive position and allow him to help. Slowly, she turned around but she kept on darting suspicious glances over her shoulders. Legolas noticed this but didn't say anything.
"I need to see your back," he said softly knowing that rushing her would do nothing. After a nod of permission, he gently helped her slip off the light green tunic. The he was faced with the bloody mess of her back. Most of the bleeding stopped but some had reopened when she jerked awake. Behind the mess of dried blood, he could see the pearly white of past scars.
"Haldir?" he said. He felt her jerk underneath his hands when he said that and Haldir shot him a questioning look. Legolas shook his head slightly, his golden hair cascading down his back like a waterfall.
Haldir stepped towards his friend, holding a small basin filled with warm water and athelas leaves. He made a face when he saw the result of the Elf's whippings. Legolas took a small piece of cloth and dipped it into the athelas. Then, trying to cause as little pain as possible, started to clean her back. A small hiss escaped the Elf and an occasional shudder ripped through her body but she otherwise did nothing. Soon, the water in the basin was tinted red by her blood.
The piece of cloth was also stained red by her blood and Legolas was amazed that the Elf didn't utter a single whimper. He glanced at her face but it was completely emotionless. He bound her back with clean bandages and stood up admiring his work.
Hithiel shook her head slightly, causing her long raven hair to fall back into place, covering her bandaged back. She shrugged her tunic back on and turned to face the two Elves. She had to admit, she was starting to trust Legolas but the other...
'Haldir...' Yes, that's what Legolas had called him. Her sharp eyes studied the Guardian. He was stronger than her and probably had more experience but she had seen to it that she was faster than him.
"It should heal naturally now," said Legolas jerking her from her thoughts. "Don't overstrain yourself. You can rest here in the palace until you are strong enough to travel."
Hithiel was taken aback at this offer. She had not expected kindness or help from the stranger. There must be something else. No one will offer shelter without payment. He wants something in return.
Legolas could see that she was surprised by his offer but he said nothing. 'Why doesn't she trust me?' He cleared his throat slightly. "May I ask you something?" he said nonchalantly, hoping that she'll be more corporative this time.
'I knew it! He wants information. That was the payment for living here. That's why he was acting so nice to me.' She narrowed her eyes. "That depends on what the question is," she said coldly, her suspicions renewed. Her training ran through her mind: Never trust men. 'Especially the son of Thranduil.'
She saw Haldir move from the corner of her eye and she whipped around to face him in an attacking stance. To her surprise, he didn't attack her. He just stood there with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I am not your enemy," he said with a grin when he saw she was in an attacking stance.
Legolas also grinned. "I said don't strain your back," he scolded lightly. To his delight, she also smiled. It was the first time he ever saw it and he could see it was genuine, lighting up her entire face.
"No, you said don't OVER-strain my back. I'm not OVER-straining it." She grinned at Legolas's mock pout for losing the argument. 'How can this Elf be Thranduil's son? He's so innocent, so carefree. Maybe Mother is wrong. Maybe not all men are bad.'
At the thought of her Mother, all her playfulness evaporated leaving her only her training and duty. To kill Thranduil. That's what she lived for. That was the only cause. The impish grin left and slight frown decorated her face.
"Does your back pain you now?" he asked seeing the change in her.
"Yes," she lied feeling a pang of guilt. The Elf has been truthful to her all the time and even saved her life yet she still lied to him. His startling blue eyes were overflowing with innocence and youth.
Legolas quickly got a pillow and used it to support her injured back, feeling the emerald green eyes studying every movement. "What were you going to ask me?" she said suddenly.
"Oh, nothing."
"Liar."
"Fine. I was going to ask you who did this to you," he gestured to her back.
His sharp blue eyes saw the emotions that flitted through her eyes. Sadness, loss, and acceptance were all blended together in those expressive eyes. She blinked once and it became guarded, void of all emotions. 'You didn't deserve it. No one should,' he thought sadly, feeling his heart go out towards the Elf.
"I can't tell you," she said softly after a moment of awkward silence. She looked up and the two Elves could see unshed tears in her eyes. Legolas wanted to reach out to comfort the Elf but he feared that he would scare her away.
"Why?" asked Haldir just as softly.
A single crystalline tear slid down her pale cheek but she quickly brushed it away. 'Mother, why? Don't you love me? You never cared about me. I was nothing to you. You are just using me for your own revenge. You were wrong. Not all men are worthless. Haldir and Legolas actually care. They care.'
She bit her lower lip, trying to direct her internal pain somewhere else. It didn't help so she bit harder. Then the metallic tang of blood filled her mouth and she realized that she had injured herself. A river of blood ran down her chin from her split lip. Her eyes blurred from the unshed tears but she refused to let them fall.
Legolas looked at the broken Elf with pity swimming in his eyes. He held up a piece of cloth to her. She looked away. "I am not crying." Her voice was dull and lifeless.
'What happened to you, Hithiel?' he thought. "I know. It's for the blood." Hithiel turned and looked away again. Legolas sighed. She's so stubborn! "If you want to cry, just cry. There is no shame in it. Even the strongest of warriors will cry. Tell us what happened. Trust us."
Hithiel turned her proud head slowly towards him. "Should I trust them? Can I trust them with my secret?'
Ok, there you go. A small dose of cliffs do very nicely for getting reviews. PLEASE REVIEW!!! It will make me very happy cause now I'm really bored with Spring Break.